The Sports Car of Organs Pipes Up at HSU

With the appropriate pomp and circumstance, the Humboldt State University Music Department will dedicate its new baroque-style pipe organ at a special free concert on Saturday, September 29. But just because it’s a period design doesn’t mean it’s not modern.

“This pipe organ is a type called a tracker instrument,” Dr. Gil Cline, Professor of Music and Project Director for this pipe organ explained. “ It has a 17th century design but it gets its air power from a high quality electric motor, rather than the old bellows system. Trackers have the reputation of being sort of like light, powerful sports cars.”

The gift of an anonymous donor, the organ was made by the German firm Bosch. It required many months of repair and miscellaneous work. The inaugural concert features a program designed to show off the organ’s capabilities and will put it through its paces.

The concert begins with a fanfare written by Gil Cline expressly for the Bosch organ, performed by Greg Granoff with Cline’s HSU Trumpet Consort von Humboldt, featuring baroque trumpets.

Terry Yard, Merry Schellinger, Helen Hui and Kristen Anderson, all local organists and members of the American Guild of Organists will continue the program. Violinist will also perform, honoring the traditional pairing of violin and organ, instruments that came of age together in the 17th century.

Organist Doug Moorehead, past Dean of the local American Guild of Organists chapter, will conclude the concert, a fitting honor for the person who began the process that resulted in this organ dedication.